27 rue de la Navigation, Geneva, Switzerland | 41 22 544 40 40
Location within walking distance of the lake and main train station
Elegant rooms feature flat-screen TVs and minibars; some with kitchenettes and terraces
Attractive lobby and public spaces with English colonial decor
Stylish lobby bar and breakfast room
Fitness center with modern machines and free weights
Classically decorated meeting room fits up to eight people
24-hour business center
Pets allowed (for a fee)
Outdoor and underground parking available (for a fee)
Restaurant, French bistro, and bar at sister hotel
Free Wi-Fi and public transportation cards
Close to Geneva’s red light district
Breakfast is pricey
The charming 62-room Hotel Kipling is an upscale property decorated in Southeast Asian and English colonial furnishings. It's situated on the city’s Right Bank, within a few blocks of the main train station. Elegantly appointed rooms feature flat-screen TVs, minibars, an free Wi-Fi, while upgraded options add sitting areas, kitchenettes, and, in some rooms, terraces. The hotel has a delightful lobby bar and a lovely breakfast room (though breakfast is pricey). There's also a modern fitness center as well as a meeting room and business center. The hotel is conveniently close to several restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as being a 15-minute tram ride to the Old Town, but its close proximity to Geneva’s red light district is a common concern. Travelers seeking something comparable, but closer to the Old Town, might want to consider the Tiffany Hotel instead.
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Scene
Stylish boutique hotel with East-meets-West decor
The Hotel Kipling, a Manotel property, is stylishly decorated in Southeast Asian and English colonial designs inspired by the English novelist Rudyard Kipling, who was born in Bombay and penned “The Jungle Book.” The hotel’s competitive prices, upscale atmosphere, and location that’s a few blocks from Geneva’s main train station attract mostly couples and travelers in town on business. Kipling was an avid traveler and the hotel’s interiors are designed with his adventurous spirit in mind, featuring souvenirs from across the world, colorful fabrics, carved wooden details, and a front desk made from an old-fashioned luggage trunk. Hallways are simple and elegant, with red accent walls and black-and-white photos that continue into the stairwell. Charming framed botanical flower prints adorn the wooden interiors of the elevator. The lovely breakfast room maintains the lobby’s elegant air, with wooden floors, rattan chairs, and colorful booth seating, as well as a small terrace.
Location
Located on Geneva’s Right Bank, close to the main train station
Set in the Rue des Paquis area, the hotel is within walking distance of the Geneva Cornavin main train station as well as the lake, where the Jet d’Eau is visible. Cafes, restaurants, and shops surround the hotel, which is, however, also near what’s known as Geneva’s red light district. The hotel provides guests with a free transportation card usable on Geneva’s trams, buses, trains, and ferries. The United Nations headquarters is 15 minutes by bus or tram. The Old Town, with over 45 museums and sights, such as the Maison Tavel, St. Pierre Cathedral and the Grand Theater, is also 15 minutes away by tram. The Geneva International Airport -- adjacent to Palexpo, the Geneva Arena, and the World Trade Center -- is 15 minutes by car.
Rooms
Charming rooms have elegant decor, flat-screen TVs, and minibars; some have terraces
Continuing the English colonial theme from public spaces, guest rooms display an understated elegance, mixing classic decor, red-striped textiles, tropical wall hangings, and rattan furniture. All are outfitted with writing desks, flat-screen TVs, minibars, tea- and coffee-making facilities, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Executive Rooms add sitting areas with sofa beds, Nespresso machines, and kitchenettes with microwaves, counters, and mini-fridges, plus some have terraces. Kitchenettes are also available for an added fee in some of the Standard Rooms. Stylish bathrooms -- decorated in gold, red, black, and white -- offer hairdryers, scales, and shower/tub combos. Room service and cribs are available. And Swiss chocolates placed on beds are a sweet perk.
Features
Charming lobby bar, breakfast room, modern fitness center, meeting room, plus facilities at sister hotel
Close attention has been paid to the Kipling's decor, and there's a uniformly stylish atmosphere throughout the hotel. The charming lobby bar serves coffee and cocktails in a stylish setting, and breakfast is available (though pricey) in a delightful breakfast room with a buffet area and patio seating on a small terrace. There is no full restaurant, but guests are invited to visit the nearby sister property, the Royal Hotel, which is two blocks away and has a French brasserie, a fine-dining restaurant, and a cozy bar with a fireplace.The hotel's fitness center is well equipped with modern machines, free weights, a flat-screen TV, and bottled water as well as a Volvic water cooler. The meeting room has a conference table for up to eight people, a flat-screen TV, flip chart, and an espresso machine. There's also a 24-hour business center equipped with two PC computers and printers.
